Why do I take groups to the Middle East?

1. Because I found during our first trip in 1996 that the experience enriched my Bible study and provided me with many insights and understandings which I believe it is difficult to experience otherwise.
2. Because I have been amazed that after listening in on dozens of other tour guides, (a) the information shared is often biblically or historically inaccurate; (b) the importance of Biblical sites is generally limited to only one event when often several great and important events are associated with the location; and (c) typical guides generally offer very shallow interpretation and commentary.
3. Because I can provide this experience for less than half the price of a similar tour (more on that below).
4.  Because tour groups (a) are often so large (30+) that many cannot clearly hear the tour guide; (b) are often so large that many of the best sites (Solomon’s Quarries, Solomon’s Pools, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Tomb of the Kings, Western Wall Tunnel, Mea She’arim, Roman Plaza, St. Mark’s tower, Kidron Steps of Ascent, Jewish Quarter mikveh, Tomb of the Prophets, Mar Saba, Beth She’arim, Tel Balata Archeological Park, Sisters of Nazareth excavations, high place of sacrifice, Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Machaerus, etc.) are skipped entirely; (c) are often so large they are not able to stay where we stay (inside the walled city of Jerusalem and in a convent in Galilee) and cannot move quickly (lunch for 30+, restrooms for 30+, etc., take up much more time); and (d) typically begin their day’s touring about 8:00 a.m.  In contrast, we begin each day at 6:00 a.m. This means we do far more every day than most tour groups, we do more at a time of day when it is cooler, and we do more when it is less crowded and, thus, is more efficient.

Bottom line: Compared with the larger, for profit groups, we will see many, many more sites, will have interviews with orthodox rabbis, Palestinian Muslims, and others they don’t have, will enjoy a more “experiential” trip by staying inside the Old City of Jerusalem (not in a hotel in the modern city of Jerusalem) and walking the same walks Jesus took with his disciples, etc., will be gone two or three days longer, and will visit two countries, not one. And we will do all this for far less money than what the larger, more casually-paced, for-profit groups charge.